William Bard (teratologist)

William Bard was a pioneering American teratologist who studied congenital abnormalities caused by environmental factors. He is best known for his research on how certain medications, such as thalidomide, taken during pregnancy could lead to severe limb deformities in developing embryos. Bard’s work helped establish the importance of understanding teratogens—agents that cause birth defects—and contributed to the development of guidelines to prevent such conditions, ultimately improving maternal and fetal health. His research advanced the field of teratology, the study of birth defects, emphasizing cautious medication use during pregnancy.